VEX EDUbot hybrid or $50.00 VEX kit?

[Tazlikesrobots]

On a recent trip to Radio Shack I discovered that the VEX components are compatible with the Edubot kit. So for about $50.00 (for wheels and gears) I've made my own VEX kit (well sort of) but it was a well spent 6 hours of fun. Now I am the proud owner of a tennis ball fetching robot!!!

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3538&stc=1

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3539&stc=1

[Conor Ryan]

Awesome! Vex on a budget! I'm gonna HAVE to try this. Looks like a pretty nice simple robot too.

[sanddrag]

It is not any cheaper. It is actually more expensive. It is just cheaper for you because you already have the EDU RC. If you didn't have that, you'd have to dish out another $500 plus the operator interface and radio (coming to about $900 total). If you had to buy what you already have, you'd be in at least the cost of 2 vex kits.

I'm glad to see you made use of something you already have, but for anyone who doesn't already have the EDU RC (Isaac 16 right?), it would be MUCH more expensive than buying a full vex kit.

[Tazlikesrobots]

That is true! But this is about breathing new life into an old kit and making it new and fun to experiment with again.

[Michael Leicht]

How do the Omni wheels work? (good or bad)

[Arefin Bari]

How do the Omni wheels work? (good or bad)

Adding to what Mike said... what are the rollers made out of?

btw... the robot is simple... looks nice... good job.

[Tazlikesrobots]

The omni wheels work quite well. My next goal is to build a crab drive system for it, but it will have to wait until I get more motors...

The omni wheel hubs are plastic and the rollers are made from some sort of hard rubber. Radio shack does not have the wheels in stock yet, but I have some contacts at IFI and was able to borrow a set for evaluation. According to the brochure, the wheels will be available sometime this month along with the programming module.

[sanddrag]

Radio Shack has them online http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=276-2165# but they weren't found in any stores near me (according to the online inventory checker).

[Tazlikesrobots]

That is the same thing I ran into when I tried to buy some more omni wheels. The store manager said that the warehouse does not have them in inventory yet, but she would let me know when they arrived. My guess is that it will be the end of the month before they are in stock.

[Rich Wong]

Phat hybrid! :)

Great suggestion, we (in NYC) were just debating about what to use for this Fall's workshop- VEX or EDU-bot.
Now we can have a hybrid.

[Tazlikesrobots]

If you want to add more structure material to the EDU kit, Radio Shack sells the metal components separately. The metal kit costs about $80.00...

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=276-2161

[sanddrag]

If you want to add more structure material to the EDU kit, Radio Shack sells the metal components separately. The metal kit costs about $80.00...

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=276-2161I still want to see a totally custom Vex bot with machined aluminum parts and whatnot. If I had the money to spend on it, I'd be doing it right now.

[Tazlikesrobots]

That sounds like a great offseason project! :)

[Alex Cormier]

Radio Shack has them online http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=276-2165# but they weren't found in any stores near me (according to the online inventory checker).
all the stores around me have them available.

[tiffany34990]

very nice job...simple yet elegant

good job on saving the bucks too :) having the green stuff on hand is always nice

[Tazlikesrobots]

all the stores around me have them available.

I went by Radio Shack today and saw the omni wheels in the store. Now I gotta buy the tank drive kit! :D